OBSERVATIONS ON INSECTS. 347 



alighted. These armies, no doubt, were then in a state of 

 emigration, and shifting their quarters ; and might perhaps 

 come from the great hop-plantations of Kent or Sussex, the 

 wind being that day at north. They were observed at the 

 same time at Farnham, and all along the vale to Alton. — 

 White. 



ANTS. 



August 23rd. Every ant-hill about this time is a strange 

 hurry and confusion ; and all the winged ants, agitated by 

 some violent impulse, are leaving their homes, and, bent on 

 emigration, swarm by myriads in the air, to the great 

 emolument of the hirundines, which fare luxuriously. 

 Those that escape the swallows return no more to their 

 nests, but looking out for fresh settlements, lay a founda- 

 tion for future colonies. All the females at this time are 

 pregnant ; the males that escape being eaten, wander away 

 and die. 



October 2nd. Flying-ants, male and female, usually 

 swarm and migrate on hot sunny days in August and 

 September : but this day a vast emigration took place in 

 my garden, and myriads came forth, in appearance from 

 the drain which goes under the fruit-wall, filling the air 

 and the adjoining trees and shrubs with their numbers. 

 The females were full of eggs. This late swarming is 

 probably owing to the backward wet season. The day 

 following not one flying ant was to be seen. 



Horse-ants travel home to their nests laden with flies 

 which they have caught, and the aurelise of smaller ants, 

 which they seize by violence. — White. 



In my Naturalises Calendar for the year 1777, on 

 September 6th, I find the following note to the article 

 Flying Ants : — 



